Assignment 1:

1. What is DNA?
- Deoxyribonucleic acid, a molecule that carries genetic information, found in the nucleus of cells.

2. How is DNA organized inside the cells?
- The two parallel strands in each DNA are twisted around each other to form a double helix. A molecule of DNA is wrapped around proteins to form a chromatin thread. Chromatin threads are tightly coiled into chromosones inside the cell nucleus.

3. What is gene?
- A small segment of DNA that contains information (instruction) to make a single protein. Each protein is responsible for determining a particular characteristic of an organism.

4. What is the basic unit of DNA and what is it made up of?
- The basic unit of DNA is called nucleotide. Each nucleotide is made up of a sugar called deoxyribose, a phosphate group, and anitrogen-containing base.

5. State the rules of base pairing.
- Adenine (A) always pairs with Thymine (T).
- Cytosine (C) always pairs with Guanine (G).
- (A) and (T) are complementary bases.
- (C) and (G) are complementary bases.


Complete the assignment in your respective group pages.

Assignment 2:

1. Explain the process of transcription.
  • DNA must be unziped to expose the template DNA strand.
  • The message of the gene on the template DNA must be copied into a RNA molecule called messanger RNA [mRNA].
  • This copying proccess in known as transcription.

2. Explain the process of translation.
  • After transcription, mRNA detatched itself from DNA template and carries the message out of the nucleus into cytoplasm.
  • The DNA molecule revert back into its duble helix structure.
  • A ribosome helps to convert, (translate) the message in the mRNA into a protein molecule.
  • This is called translation.